Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson congratulates Jose Martinez after he was named a Milken Educator Award winner during an assembly at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colo., Nov. 12, 2013.

A tenuous relationship between Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson and a new conservative board hit its breaking point Saturday when the district’s longtime leader announced that she would leave earlier than expected.

Stevenson, who has been at the helm of the district for more than 12 years, told a crowded room, filled mostly with supporters, that her work was being impeded by a newly elected board majority.

“I can’t lead and manage because I am not trusted or respected by this board of education,” Stevenson said. “If I can’t lead and if I can’t manage, I don’t serve you well. And my issue is serving you, serving our community and, most importantly, serving our kids.”

Stevenson announced her retirement in November, days after a new conservative majority was elected to the school board. Stevenson said she knew then that the new majority — Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams — would want a change in leadership, but she planned to stay on through June 30.

On Saturday morning, Stevenson said her last day is Feb. 21.

Witt, the school board president, said the majority honored a request by Stevenson to end her contract early. He declined to discuss Stevenson’s comments about the board’s lack of trust and respect for her work.

“The fact is she approached the board and asked to be let out of her contract early,” Witt said. “I certainly never contacted her and said, ‘I want you to leave.’ We are, however, very much willing to honor that desire to be released early. It allows Cindy and the district to move forward.”

Discussion about Stevenson’s early departure began Monday when she called the district’s lawyer and said that if the board wanted her to leave she was prepared to listen to its offer.

Stevenson said she wanted to stay at the school district until March 31, but the board’s attorney said it wanted her out by Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Witt added an agenda item to Saturday’s meeting to discuss a “personnel matter” related to Stevenson despite a protest from the superintendent, who said her attorney could not be present.

Brad Miller, the school board’s attorney, told The Denver Post on Friday that the discussion would not be about firing Stevenson.

On Saturday, Witt agreed with that comment. He said Stevenson initiated the discussion and the disagreement was simply over when she would leave.

About 250 people attended the meeting, some wearing stickers and holding signs in support of Stevenson. Witt ended the meeting early without hearing a scheduled budget presentation after a boisterous crowd booed, shouted for respect and called for a recall of the board.

“These are people we are supposed to trust,” said Lakewood High Principal Ron Castagna. “We ask people not to bully kids in school. We ask people to be honest and up front and not steal and lie, and we have a school board who has a lawyer who misrepresents what’s going on. Cindy can take the high road and say she is leaving because she can’t work with them, but they want to fire her. She was pushed out.”

The Colorado Association of School Executives this week hired Stevenson to run its new leadership initiative at the end of her contract term.

Sheila Atwell, executive director of Jeffco Students First, an organization that supports the board majority, defended the early separation.

“When an executive announces her retirement, announces she has a new job, and asks to be released from their contract, it is prudent to honor that request,” Atwell said in a statement.

Parent and teacher Kim Wilson said the new board is entitled to change the direction of the district, but she worries about the approach.

“I’m disappointed as a parent,” Wilson said. “My child is in elementary, and she has a full education ahead of her. I’m worried that their private agenda is going to affect the rest of her life, and I question the fairness of that.”

Lesley Dahlkemper, a member of the minority on the school board, said the district is headed in the wrong direction.

“I want to ask the three members of the board majority how this decision is good for 85,000 kids?,” Dahlkemper said. “This new board is trying to push out a nationally recognized leader. You tell me how that’s good for children?”

Witt said an interim superintendent has not been named and the district’s chief academic officer, chief financial officer and chief operating officer will report directly to the board after Stevenson leaves.

Stevenson’s contract states that if the school board unilaterally decides to sever ties, the district would have to pay the remainder of her $201,000 salary and benefits outlined in the agreement.

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